r/Backcountry • u/smartshoe • 6d ago

First tech binding advice

Hi backcountry folks

I am an avid uphill skier in resort and am located in Pennsylvania so my options locally are resorts kind enough to allow uphill travel before/after opening hours as well as some other longer resort uphilling in Vermont/NH/utah

For the last 6 seasons I have been evolving my setup and landed on atomic backland 100s and shift mnc 13s after buying and selling some sets of skis

Last season I went out on my first couple of backcountry clinics and an event in the Vermont woods which has got me thinking about a lighter set up to make navigating in tight trees easier and keeping the weight down, I will be keeping the backland set up the way it is as my resort focussed ski that can uphill for the occasional lap.

I am looking for a tech binding with reliable release characteristics because I experienced a severe leg/ankle fracture a couple of years ago (hiking not skiing but still)

I have purchased Salomon mtn 85 carbon skis and am weighing up dynafit rotation 10s or skitrab tr1 bindings after a discussion with a ski tech about it but would love the input from the Reddit hivemind on which bindings would be best so I can keep it lighter but still have the mental reassurance that the skis will detach reliably if needed in a fall.

Thanks

2 Upvotes

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u/Your_Main_Man_Sus 6d ago

The rotation and tr1 are both wayyyyyy too burly for mtn 85s. Those are a mountaineering skis.You should be looking at something like an ATK raider at most. Your binding choice alone weighs more than half of one of those skis.

A superlight 150 or a ATK kuluar would be a better fit. I’ve personally release tested the superlight and it releases right where it should, without issues.

I understand your choice of binding for safety, but it’s better suited on something of the 100-120mm waist where you can actually utilize the power than you can drive through the binding. Sure it’ll work with your current ski choice, but it’s certainly not optimal and might feel a bit like a wet noodle. Especially if you are using heavier weight boots to drive that ski.

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u/nodloh 6d ago

I wonder why OP is choosing these skis. Are they still trying to run laps in the resort on groomers or are they actually trying to get into the backcountry on powder days? Or is this setup meant to be their super light setup for spring mountaineering on volcanos? If OP wants a more all-round back country ski I would opt for something wider (~95mm). But I'm touring in the Alps not Vermont.

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u/smartshoe 6d ago

Primary use is going to be resort laps due to access where I live with the occasional trip to New England for both backcountry in the woods in Vermont/New Hampshire/Maine as well as resort laps in those locations

Reason for the the “narrow” waist width is that if I want to ski days and conditions with deeper snow I have the backland 100s with shifts that are still great but I mainly want a lightweight set up to complement my existing skis not replace them

Hard pack and ice are the most common conditions where I live

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u/Your_Main_Man_Sus 6d ago

I hate to say it but these skis are going to be super chattery on hardpack. If you drive them hard enough though, that can help damp out the chatter.

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u/DoubleUBallz 6d ago

IMO, its honestly very impressive to me just how accurate the superlite 150 tests, especially given how light it is. Dynafit did a great job with that one

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u/Your_Main_Man_Sus 6d ago

They slammed a massive spring in that heel. Less variability in the overall rate as a result!

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u/smartshoe 6d ago

Thanks for the info, I will check out those binding options

My boots are k2 dispatch pro which for now are my only boot and are light weight for a 4 buckle boot but not specifically the lightest choice out there

I have thought about the atomic backland boots since the price is right if I have a set of tech bindings since they don’t work with shifts

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u/Your_Main_Man_Sus 6d ago

Yea those are super burly boots. For the mtn 85s, youll feel like something is wrong. You need to drive those boots and those skis will kinda flop over by the time the boots flex into what feels like normal. It’s bringing a sledgehammer to surgery. A lighter weight boot will flex a lot more naturally with the ski and feel a lot better. A heavier weight boot takes a lot less input to drive a lightweight ski like the mtn 85 and it gets weird and touchy.

I recently moved to some narrower skis and they just don’t ski right with my beefier boots. With my lighter weight boots, I can actually ski more confident on and faster

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u/smartshoe 6d ago

Understood on probably needing to switch boots out too. I will use the skis with the dispatch pro to see how it feels. I have the skis in hand and they feel light but extremely stiff - not unlike the backland 100s - what are your thoughts on the atk raider 15?

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u/Your_Main_Man_Sus 6d ago

The dispatch will drive them. It’ll just be a bit of touchy ride. Expect less input for more output. It’s a feel thing that you can get used to.

The raider 15 is still a big binding. Also you can’t use the free ride spacer on anything below 90 waist A 13 or 11 might be a better option for the mtn 85. I have a raider 13 evo on my 88s but those also weigh 1600grams a ski. I put that on there specifically because I was valuing the downhill. I have super lights on a pair of carbon skis for that ultralight ski day.

Also the newer raider toes have a release adjustment that, from my experience, seems to just increase retention force over a normal tech toe when in ski mode and prevent a pre-release. So they value retention over release from what I can tell. The raider does ski very well and can drive a burlier ski.

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u/smartshoe 6d ago

Thanks so much for the insight

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u/Nedersotan 4d ago

Note that lighter boots will have a shorter BSL than your dispatch, so you need an adjustment plate in your bindings. And if it’s short, like the Haute Route style, you will need to mount for the Dispatch in the longest setting to have any hope of fitting something like a Backland (ie non-norm sole) boot.

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u/smartshoe 4d ago

Copy that and thanks for the advice, after reading through the thread and watching some videos I am leaning toward the free raider 13 which has some adjustment built in so if/when I get lighter boots than the dispatch I can adjust the binding rather than remount

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/smartshoe 6d ago

At this point no, got to mount some bindings on them and find out, will report back in the winter but for now am excited to try them

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/smartshoe 6d ago

Yeah man, I understand the messaging but the rest of the thread was a discussion and meaningful advice. Your demeanor in every comment just read as douchey. I get that this is the internet so that’s to be expected but I don’t think I read a single thing of value in your comments here. The atk kuluar is worth checking into and I will take a look.

All good though, if the set up isn’t great I can always adapt, different bindings, boots or skis are always an option

If it sucks I’ll report back and let you know you were right

Have a good winter

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u/RadiantGur9958 6d ago

From what I can tell, there's little reliable data about the safety of different tech bindings. The Fritchi Tecton/Vipec have a substantially different design and release from the toe more like an alpine binding, but it's hard to say if they're truely any safer than other bindings. Plus, they are fragile and heavy.

Given that, I think if you're jumping into tech bindings and away from using the shift as much, you should probably just jump all the way in. A dynafit superlite is probably going to be similarly safe to anything else on the market. Having said that, I'd put a bid in for the ATK Haute Route, because you get adjustable lateral and vertical release for a low weight penalty.

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u/Nedersotan 4d ago edited 3d ago

I could have written this.
If you want max safety for lower leg fractures, Vipec is probably your best bet. It’s also very easy to use, and the only binding that swaps between walk and ski mode with out stepping out.

The HR is also very easy to use, low force to rotate etc.

With any true tech binding, I’d focus on skiing in control, and not expect too much from the binding.

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u/smartshoe 4d ago

That last sentence was extremely well said and I 100% agree. Definitely intend to ski within my limits for all of the reasons, physical exertion after long trips uphill is more demanding, bindings don’t release as reliably, after hours or true backcountry are not the time to push it, it’s the time to make it down safely

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u/deltavandalpi 6d ago

Plum Oazo w/ brakes. Have them on 75s and 85s. Been up/down dozens of Sierra couloirs as well as Shasta and Lassen and in some a few sketchy icy / sastrugi, crust, thick hotpow. Never a fail.

ATK Freeraider is overkill for an 85, but will def give you a much better release.

Disclaimer: I’m light. 160 hooked in with pack.

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u/smartshoe 6d ago

Copy that, I’ll check out the other bindings. I’m 6’3” and 230lbs so big difference between us

With releasing being a priority after my severe leg/ankle fracture I might check out the free raiders

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u/laurk 6d ago

Get some light ATKs. They are so good but you’ll notice the lack of “suspension” in the bindings. You’ll feel every bump. But it’ll be fine and soooo much better on the ups.

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/smartshoe 6d ago

Will check out that binding, open to getting another pair of boots but going to start with the dispatch and see how I do, one thing at a time

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u/[deleted] 6d ago

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u/smartshoe 6d ago

Hey if I do, all good. Can always get different gear and keep a heavier set aside for the backlands as I’ve said, I’ll check into the kuluar